BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Smith a Good Teacher Too

The addition of veteran Lee Smith in the Angel bullpen has paid off in more than saves. Smith, the all-time major league save leader, has been a teacher and role model for rookie relievers Mike James and Troy Percival.

“One of the things they’ve learned from him is that when he’s had a bad outing, they saw he was no different,” Manager Marcel Lachemann said. “They’ve learned something about persevering for a whole season. Most everybody can handle success . . . but you’re not going to convert every save.”

James has a 2-0 record and a 3.11 earned-run average in 29 appearances. Percival is 2-0 with two saves and a 1.75 ERA in a team-high 44 appearances.

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Minnesota will retire Kent Hrbek’s No. 14 jersey in a ceremony before today’s game. It’s the third and final day of Kent Hrbek Appreciation Weekend. He is the fourth Twin to have his number retired, joining Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew and Tony Oliva. Hrbek played for the Twins from 1981 to 1994, helping them win World Series titles in 1987 and 1991.